Semalt Expert: How To Manage Spam Mails?

Reporting scam mails to the relevant authorities is one of the most impactful ways of disrupting fraudsters and preventing the evolution of the crime. In the UK, the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau carries out operations to gather and analyse data about mail scams and such like crimes. This helps to inform decision-making especially about preventive actions that should be taken.

Get down to the tips provided by Ryan Johnson, the Senior Sales Manager of Semalt, who knows what to do about scam mail.

Reporting scam mail

You can inform the relevant authorities about a scam mail that you've received in a number of ways. These include contacting Royal Mail or the company which is being mimicked by the fraudsters.

Report scam mail to Royal Mail

Royal Mail is a mail and parcel delivery service. It works with relevant authorities to prevent scam mail from infiltrating the postal system. If you or a person you know receives a scam mail, Royal Mail advices that you forward the mail with a covering letter to this address:

Freepost Scam Mail, P.O. Box 797, Exeter Ex1 9UN

You can also call Royal Mail via 0345 611 3413 or send an email to scam.mail@royalmail.com.

Royal Mail also encourages affected persons to complete a Scam Mail Report (available for download on their website) and send it together with the mail received from the fraudsters and other documents or materials suspected to have originated from the scammers.

Another way of reporting scam mail is by sending your full name, address and telephone number by post to the above postal address, by email or by telephone (03456 113 413). Royal Mail will send you a form and prepaid addressed envelope so that after filling the form you send it with samples of the scam mails received.

Reporting to the company

If you receive a scam mail from fraudsters pretending to be representatives of a genuine company, it's wise to contact the company.

It could be a bank or a government department that is being mimicked and is cited in the scam mail. Notifying that organisation will help as it can inform other people about the scam. Some companies put notices on their websites and outline steps that one should take in case they fall victim to the scam.

What about scam emails?

Emails are the other popular ways through which scammers trick people into unlawful schemes. If you notice a scam email in your inbox, make sure you report it.

Before looking at the reporting options you have when you receive a scam email, let's first review a few tips that will keep you and your information safe. When you receive a scam email:

DO NOT click any link in the email.

DO NOT reply the email or make contact with the sender in any way.

DO NOT give out any information even if you have already clicked the link.

DO NOT open any attachment in the email.

Reporting scam email to Royal Mail

Royal Mail starts the fight against scam emails by providing a list of the most frequent scam emails to help you spot scam emails at a glance. If you receive a suspicious email, you can contact Royal Mail via the company's contact page or the "Contact us" link at the bottom of the site's web pages.

Reporting scam email to email company

Scam emails or phishing emails can also be reported to the ISP (Internet Service Provider) that was used to end the email. For example, if the email came from a Gmail account, you can report it using the ‘Report Spam' button on Gmail's homepage. Yahoo has an email (abuse@yahoo.com) to which information about scam emails and related crimes is reported. Hotmail has provided a 'Report phishing' button for the same purpose.

Reporting scam mails and emails in good time cannot be overemphasized. At a time when scams are right, left and centre, one cannot afford to assume that everything is alright. In the fight against fraudsters, it's good to be cynical and not to trust the face value of information from mails or telephone calls.